Voluntarism at the Crossroads: A Challenge for Adult Educators. Proceedings of a Conference (Hillside, Illinois, February 1978).

Niemi, John A., Ed.; Stone, Eve M., Ed.

Speeches and reports from participants at a two-day conference on voluntarism in adult education are presented. One major program goal was to explore the possibility of stimulating growth and development of service voluntary efforts in Northern Illinois. Special conference concerns included the use of volunteers in adult basic education, general educational development, and English-as-a-second-language programs. Several papers presented were "Voluntarism: An Action Proposal for Adult Educators," by Paul Ilsey; "Why Voluntarism? An Issue for the 70's and a Challenge for the 80's," by John A. Niemi; "Voluntarism: State of the Art," by Alice Leppart; and "Myths and Fears about Volunteers," by Michael Collins. Three panel discussions are summarized in reports on the place of volunteers in adult education, volunteers' orientation and training, and evaluation and recognition. Five workshop leaders presented reports on the following topics: Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc., matching volunteers with clients, women in voluntarism, advocacy voluntarism, and using the university as a source of tutors for English as a second language. A program evaluation completed the proceedings. Appended materials to this report include evaluation instruments, workshop goals and objectives, profiles of resource people, and ERIC abstracts on voluntarism. (CSS)